Court nails Notwane again
Sport
Dejection reigns supreme at the Notwane Football club following a court of appeal ruling that the embattled club had no case to argue in the first place.
The team cried foul that its mother body, Botswana Football Association (BFA) and its sub-structures refused to accede to their plea that Maun based outfit Sankoyo Bush Bucks had fielded a defaulter against them. The association had concluded that the wording of Notwane‘s letter did not amount to an appeal but rather a complaint. Although, a struggling team from Selibe Phikwe, FC Satmos was to later benefit from the same offence committed by Sankoyo, Notwane felt aggrieved and took to the courts of law.
In their eyes, the association and its relevant structures were conflicted when addressing the dispute that drastically led to their first ever relegation. Toronto Boys, as Notwane is popularly known would later play a crucial tie with FC Satmos. The primary reason why both Notwane and FC Satmos had to play together was that the Selibe Phikwe side had profited three soft points from Sankoyo while Notwane did not benefit the same, although the same players was used against both teams. The resultant game was to decide on who should remain in the elite league and who should relegate.
While the high court had dismissed Notwane in their attempt to stop their game against FC Santos citing that their application failed to satisfy legal requirements, the gold and black machine was threading on thin ice the minute they thought of appealing.
Notwane’s counsel had argued at length that the court should not concern itself with consequences of any order but rather focus on circumstances that forced them to seek legal redress. It was Notwane’s hopes that appealing the case may clear up the parties’ rights in respect of their entitlement to soft points from Sankoyo Bush Bucks.
However, the court of appeal rubber stamped what the high court has declared that; ‘as a general rule, courts exist for the settlement of controversies and actual infringement of rights, not to pronounce upon abstract questions or to advise upon differing contentions, however important.’’
Notably, the court of appeal pointed out that the club was destined for failure the moment they stepped into the high court. The appeal panel observed that the association had already dealt with Notwane’s complaint and showed reasons as to why it was not important for them to benefit from Sankoyo’s soft points. BFA had pointed out that ‘Notwane was not entitled to have its matter heard and that the only remedy available would have been a fine and not points. The BFA dispute committees also declared that even if Notwane was to gain the three ‘freebie points’, the team’s position was not to change and the playoff would still have involved them and FC Satmos.
The appeals board further observed that Notwane failed in its application before the high court to address the BFA communication which constituted a decision by the mother body.
Another nail was driven into Notwane’s casket with the observation that the team failed to ask the court to review and set aside the decision by the BFA final body. The premier league disciplinary committee had indicated that it could not entertain a complaint already determined by the mother body. The team lost with cost.
Regulations to note
6.2 Any team that fields a defaulter in a league game and a complaint or protest or information about the use of an alleged defaulter is brought to the attention of the relevant or disciplinary committee within 30 days of the date of the said league game, shall
6.2.1 forfeit three (3) points and two (2) goals to the opposing team for every game that the defaulter shall have played in a given season, provided that procedures relating to protests shall be heard to
6..2.2 be liable for a fine not less than P 1000.00 and not exceeding P2.000.00 for premier league and First Division leagues and not less than P500.00 and exceeding P 1000.00 for any other league.
Sport
Orange injects P350 000 into Phikwe marathon
Mobile network Orange Botswana is committed to supporting the development of local sport. Through its sponsorship, the company will be able to promote and market the sport. According to Maano Masisi, the company believes that sport can unite people from different backgrounds.
He stated that through the sponsorship of the marathon, the company will help promote healthy lifestyles and unity among the people of Selebi Phikwe.
The Selebi Phikwe Marathon is scheduled to take place on July 29, 2023. It is expected that it will attract international, regional, and social runners. A total of P216 000 has been allocated for the prize money for the first ten places in the 42.2 km race. For the 15km and 10km races, the LOC will give away prizes to the first five places.
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Sport
AFRICA’S RECOVERY: Sports as game changer
The year 2022 witnessed unprecedented phenomena. Several Africans- Gotytom Gebreslase, Sharon Lokedi, Victor Kiplangat, Tamarit Tola and many others- swept the World’s marathons records.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the resulting control measures implemented in several countries, led to many high-level sports competitions being cancelled or shelved, the Dakar 2022 Youth Olympic Games was moved to 2026.
Founder and Executive Chairman, African Sports and Creative Institute, Will Mabiakop, says the inability to hold traditional and amateur sports events have had a serious effect on public health overall, including mental health, sparking a revolution whereby athletes began to talk more openly about stress, mental overload and performance anxiety.
“Africa is home to the fastest growing economies before the crisis, no longer on track to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). COVID-19 deepened interdependence between SDGs, making them harder to achieve, especially SDG 10 (reducing inequality) and SDG 5 (gender equality_ as the pandemic had a disproportionate impact on poorer countries, and heavier burdens (such as care work) fell to women.”
Mabiakop stresses that as policymakers contemplate actions to speed up recovery and build resilience, they must argue that sports and creative businesses should play a central feature in this effort.
“The sports economy worldwide is estimated at 5% of GDP, but only 0.5% in Africa. If exploited, Africa’s sports and creative industries can offer policymakers innovative solutions. Especially, as regards job creation, and providing employment to the 15 million people entering the job market annually.”
HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY DO THIS?
By leveraging the two-for-one concept: past studies shown that a 1% growth in the economy delivers a 2% job increment in this sector (these ratios are calculated using data from 48 African countries and adjusted to the reality of the sports economy in Africa by the authors). There are between 30 and 50 job types, in sports and creative industries, respectively. These jobs do not fade away with the first major shock.
Mabiakop indicated that policymakers can use these industries to tackle multiple crises- jobs, poverty, and climate risks. Sports diplomacy- defined as communication, representation and negotiation in or through the prism of sports- has proven effective in building inclusive and cohesive societies. Moreover, sports and the creative industry can support better mental health and well-being, both important for productivity.
“Policymakers can also be true to the game by leveraging culture and tradition to celebrate identity and reap commercial value in sports, textiles and jewelry. Creative sectors allow deeper connection with culture, are not easily copied and provide great economic potential.”
He said supporting grassroots sports has powerful distributional effects. “Fortunately, technology has made reaching wide audiences easier, generating higher rates of success when talent is discovered.”
However, Mabiakop held that potential pitfalls must be highlighted. “First avoid build it and they will come policies with infrastructures denuded from the rest of the ecosystem. Like the many sports stadiums left largely unused.”
“Policymakers must remain mindful of how these sectors move the needle in human capital development. Also, align the requisite public policies needed for progress from grassroots participation to professional sports, and even to international sporting events. They should also support investment instruments to render these sectors performant.”